Ms. Doreen Marunda

Research Assistant

Doreen Charles Marunda is a development economist and policy researcher with expertise in impact evaluation, applied econometrics, and evidence-based policy analysis. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam, specializing in econometrics and development economics.

Her work spans national and regional research programs focusing on gender, youth livelihoods, financial inclusion, and micro- and small-enterprise development. She has contributed to the methodological review and application of the Women in Trade Empowerment Index (WITEI), supporting the assessment of women’s participation and empowerment in trade across East Africa. This work integrates analytical rigor with policy relevance and contributes to inclusive trade and women’s economic empowerment agendas. She also participated in an experimental study examining how young women in Tanzania navigate the transition from secondary education to employment, where she led qualitative research components and generated in-depth insights into aspirations, labor market constraints, and gender-specific barriers. Her experience also includes coordinating fieldwork for a large-scale diary study of micro and small traders across multiple cross-border trading hubs in Tanzania, documenting financial behaviors, service usage, and regulatory challenges to inform policy and program design.

Her professional background includes work with the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) in Arusha, supporting private-sector engagement, SME development, and policy dialogue between businesses and government. Her broader research portfolio covers value-chain analysis, urban planning, and business regulation, with a strong emphasis on translating empirical evidence into practical policy insights.

Doreen holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ardhi University.